The Mark of the Beast

Introduction

What is the mark of the beast? Is it a physical mark, perhaps a tattoo? Is it a microchip implant? If you believe the modern dispensational teaching as reflected in the Left Behind novels, that may be what first comes to mind. However, that is not what the church has always believed, and it is not the consensus view among Christians worldwide even today.

Let's start with the scriptures, both those that refer directly to the mark of the beast and those which may shed light on what it means, using the hermeneutic approach of using easy to understand scriptures to help understand more difficult scriptures.

Scriptures

Revelation 7:1-3

After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.”

Revelation 9:1-7

And the fifth angel blew his trumpet, and I saw a star fallen from heaven to earth, and he was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and from the shaft rose smoke like the smoke of a great furnace, and the sun and the air were darkened with the smoke from the shaft. Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. And in those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them.

Revelation 13

And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. If anyone has an ear, let him hear: If anyone is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if anyone is to be slain with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints. The Second Beast Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.

Revelation 14:6-13

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.” Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.” And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Revelation 16:1-2

Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

Interpretations

There are several ways of interpreting the mark of the beast, especially with regards to engaging in commerce. Here is a sampling, based on the more common views.

Futurist

The mark is possibly a physical mark, such as a tattoo, or perhaps a microchip implant. It is used by a worldwide government to ensure that only those who worship the beast can buy or sell. It might be the number 666, or perhaps a barcode or similar marking. If a microchip, it might use RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology such as is used in proximity card readers.

Historicist

Protestants for centuries believed that the mark of being Roman Catholic is worshiping in Latin instead of your native tongue. Also, when the Pope would prohibit commercial activity with heretics and protestants, this was seen as confirmation. Just as slaves would be marked with a brand on their hand or even foreheads, Catholics were easy to identify with their crucifixes.

Preterist, Partial Preterist, Spiritualist/Idealist

Christians in the first century in Asia Minor, where the Caesar cult was especially powerful would refuse to burn a pinch of incense and say "Caesar is lord" as required and so could not participate in the local economy.

Conclusion

So much depends on one's framework of understanding the book of Revelation. However, by simply looking at the significance of the forehead and right hand elsewhere in scripture, we can see that it is most likely symbolic.

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (Deuteronomy 6:8)

You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and (AB)you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (Deuteronomy 11:18)

Yes, there are Orthodox Jews who to this day will wear phylacteries on their heads and wrists, but most understand these to be symbolic statements.

We should hold a worldview that influences our thoughts and deeds such that we can live in this world but not of this world.

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:19)

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Appendix

If you found this article helpful and thought-provoking, you may be interested in some of these other articles I've written on the topic of eschatology:

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